The Defense Department recently released its Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, which was reviewed by Commandant Gen. Robert Neller on Medium. The top Marine indicates that progress is apparent, but Marines still “can, and must, do better.” Here are some key points he touched on:
- Nearly two-thirds of the Corps is under the age of 26, which is the at-risk demographic for sexual assault, he wrote. This means that the Corps must work harder than other services to address this.
- Prevalence of sexual assault is down in the Corps. It has decreased since 2014, according to the study. This is “encouraging, but not enough,” writes Neller.
- Marine Corps accountability is strong. Commanders prove to be firm and fair in their efforts to hold offenders accountable, consistently allowing for a commitment to accountability while also protecting the integrity of the military justice process and the rights of those involved.
- An increased number of reported sexual assaults indicates a growth of trust in the chain of command.
- Alcohol continues to cause problems — and is a “critical contributing factor” in many sexual assaults.
Neller writes that sexual assault violates the core values of the Marine Corps, undermines cohesion and keeps the Corps from being the “elite warrior team our nation expects.”
“Although we are making progress, I am far from content with where we are on sexual assault,” he wrote in Medium. “Even a single sexual assault in our Corps is one too many.”
“Anyone who assaults another Marine has betrayed the trust and confidence of the team, their family, and the American people.”
